Healthcare Crisis in the Gulf?

Last week, Gulf advocates and activists gathered for a Capitol Hill briefing on the on-going health impacts of the BP oil spill, dispersant and clean-up process for the Gulf Coast. The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights organized the briefing, and their President Kerry Kennedy presented the findings of a delegation that recently traveled the Gulf Coast meeting residents with health complaints in the wake of the spill. After their time spent attempting to understand the “scope of the emerging healthcare crisis in the wake of the BP drilling disaster,” Kerry and her team found that residents are sick and “don’t know what the exact cause of their illness is, but because they never suffered this way before the spill and they were all out on their fishing boats throughout the clean-up, they suspect this has something to do with the toxins.”

The Louisiana Bucket Brigade has done extensive surveys with impacted community members, finding “Coughing, respiratory irritation, and eye irritation were the most common” symptoms of potentially oil-related illness, and that a full 75% of those who thought they had encountered oil or dispersant reported health impacts. (more…)

Time to RESTORE the Gulf

(originally posted on the RACblog)
by Rachel Cohen

I’ve heard the axiom around Washington that when disaster strikes, Congress responds. But in the case of the BP Gulf oil spill, the worst environmental disaster of our time, this axiom has failed – until now. Still, advocates and activists have not given up, and momentum is building behind legislation crucial for the Gulf and our national energy and environmental future. This week is the time to speak out and urge Congress to invest in restoring the Gulf, empower citizens and community leaders to work effectively with oil and gas companies to protect their communities, and enhance health and safety across the offshore drilling industry.

Today you can join advocates from across the Gulf and people of diverse faiths from across the country by making a call for the future of the Gulf. This nationwide call-in day urges the Senate to pass the RESTORE Act, a bill supported by nine Gulf Coast Senators and designed to ensure that the Clean Water Act penalties collected from BP as a result of the spill are invested in Gulf restoration. This legislation would provide a desperately needed infusion of funds for restoring the ecosystems and economy hit hardest by the spill, many of which feed and fuel our nation. Nearly 500 miles of Gulf coastline in four states remains oiled, and the need for restoration is immediate. (more…)

People of Faith Agree: Gulf States Deserve BP Fines

It’s a critical time for the future of the Gulf with conversations taking place all over Capitol Hill on efforts to protect and restore coastal ecosystems and communities and enhance offshore drilling safety. That’s why, next Monday, July 25, Gulf groups and people of diverse faith nationwide will join together in calling on the Senate to pass the RESTORE Act (S. 861) and create a  Regional Citizens Advisory Council for the Gulf. You can help – make the call on July 25.

The RESTORE Act is needed now to ensure that Clean Water Act penalties resulting from the spill are invested in restoring Gulf ecosystems and communities. A recent op-ed from evangelical Christian leaders explains why this is an issue of justice for the Gulf. As the Rev. Mitch Hescox, president of the Evangelical Environmental Network (an After the Spill campaign partner), and Dr. Randy Brinson, president of the Alabama Christian Coalition, explain, “We need to support Gulf Coast residents and clean up the economic and environmental disaster. There can be no room for theoretical debates as whole communities are at stake.”

They go on to say, “We must ensure — now and in the future — that legal fines resulting from any ecological disaster provide for those impacted, and are not simply held in trust or deposited into the treasury.” We could not agree more – read the  op-ed today and get ready to take action as part of next week’s call-in blitz for the Gulf!

Movie Night for the Gulf

Looking for a fun way to engage your community in Gulf Coast restoration but don’t have the time and money to travel to the Gulf? Our friends at Gulf Restoration Network have an idea for you – host a movie night for the Gulf! “Defend the Gulf” screenings are a fun and easy way to help protect and restore the Gulf, and remind the public that the impacts of the oil and chemical dispersant continue to be felt by Gulf communities and ecosystems.

Your synagogue, church or mosque could be a great site for a screening and you can even feature a speaker or letter-writing campaign following the film. Events should be held from August 8 – September 5, while Congress is home for the summer recess and Members have an eye on what is going on in the local community. Show your Senators and Representatives that Gulf restoration is a priority for people of faith across the country!

When you sign up to host a screening, you’ll receive a host packet with a DVD, fact sheets and post cards and a petition to Congress. You’ll also get raffle tickets and prizes! This summer is a critical window for passing legislation to protect and restore the Gulf, and people across the country must stand up and raise their voices to move these efforts forward. Visit Gulf Restoration Network’s site to  sign up as a screening host, and receive the support you need to make your event a success.

GRN Draws A Line In The Sand

Jonathan Henderson, Coastal Resiliency Organizer, Gulf Restoration Network
(originally  posted on Blogging for a Healthy Gulf – additional photos on original post)

The stand against coastal and offshore drilling continued on Saturday, June 25^th along beaches and at community events worldwide.  Thousands of cities around the world participated in last Saturday’s “Hands Across the Sand” program, including many along the Gulf coast. Participants included local residents, tourists, elected officials and business owners, many hurt by the devastation of the Gulf Oil Disaster in 2010. Volunteers worked to sign people in, talk about drilling and clean energy issues, and gather petition signatures.

In Florida, along Tampa Bay area beaches, over 1300 supporters lined up to join hands to say NO to DRILLING, and call for CLEAN ENERGY NOW. The Treasure Island group, led by Surfrider Foundation, partnered with “Surfers for Autism” to create a line over 500 strong.  On St. Pete Beach, the Tradewinds event garnered 400 supporters.  Debra Davies from the Tradewinds Island Resort organized the beach, joined by a coalition of volunteers including Gulf Restoration Network, local Sierra Club chapters, Defenders of Wildlife and Save Our Seas, Beaches and Shores. (more…)

What’s the difference between the Gulf of Mexico CAC and the RCAC?

by Michelle Erenberg
(originally posted on the Gulf Restoration Network blog)

Last week, I wrote a blog about the importance of engaging communities in the decision making process as we move forward with restoration plans and projects. Recognizing this, the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force is creating a Gulf of Mexico Citizens Advisory Committee (GMCAC). This GMCAC will provide independent citizen advice to the EPA Administrator on a broad range of environmental issues affecting the five Gulf of Mexico Coastal States. It is important to point out the difference between this entity and the Gulf of Mexico Regional Citizens Advisory Council (GMRCAC) for which we  have been advocating. Explaining each of these advisory bodies below, I hope to shed some light on how they differ and why each in its own right is vital to protecting and restoring the Gulf of Mexico and our coastal communities.

The Gulf of Mexico Citizen Advisory Committee is created by The Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and will be a 25-member Committee. Its authority is limited to offering advice to officers and agencies in the executive branch of the Federal Government, in this case, specifically advising the EPA as they lead the Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Restoration Task Force and oversee the implementation plan that the task force is currently developing. Funding for such a committee may come directly from Congress or provided with monies indirectly through general agency appropriations.Additionally, FACA committees operate “in the sunshine” which means that their meetings, deliberations and reports are open and available to the public. (more…)

Joining Hands Across the Sand

On Saturday, June 25, thousands of people across the globe will gather on beaches and coastlines to stand in solidarity and support a clean energy future. They will all be taking part in the second Hands Across the Sand, an idea conceived last year by a Florida restaurant owner and surfer in response to the Florida state legislature’s decision to lift the long-standing ban on near-shore oil drilling.

Last February, thousands of Floridians gathered on beaches across the state, united to oppose oil drilling off their coast. After the BP spill began, a global Hands event was organized to raise awareness of the dangers of offshore drilling, with over 1,000 events in 40 countries. This weekend, participants will join together peacefully in coastal areas – those most vulnerable to the damages of offshore drilling – to demand clean energy solutions. Hands Across the Sand aims to protect vulnerable coasts and ecosystems, prevent future oil spill disasters and say yes to a clean energy future. (more…)

June Update Call: Gulf Coast Fishing Communities

Our next After the Spill call will be Thursday, June 30 at 2 pm CST/3 pm EST – and all are welcome to join the conversation! The call will focus on oil spill impacts on Gulf fishing and seafood, and the on-going challenges for fisherfolk, Gulf restaurateurs and their communities. We’ll hear directly from oystermen, food experts, and faith leaders. This call is presented in partnership with Gulf Restoration Network.

Featured speakers:

• Chef Susan Spicer, Bayona Restaurant, New Orleans
• Telley Madina, Coastal Communities Program Officer, Oxfam
• Reverend Cory Sparks, Chair,  Commission on Stewardship of the Environment, Louisiana Interchurch Conference

Email today to receive the dial-in number, and spread the word! After the Spill and Gulf Restoration Network look forward to learning with you.

Big Win for the Louisiana Environmental Action Network

Congratulations to our friends at the Louisiana Environmental Action Network (LEAN) on their recent court victory, a big win for environmental and human health on the Gulf Coast! A Louisiana state appellate court ruled last week that regulators must consider the environmental and health impacts that could possibly result “from dumping fluids used in drilling for oil and natural gas into the seas just off the coast.”

This practice of dumping untreated waste water from offshore drilling operations – called produced waters – was previously permitted without prior study of its consequences. The court ruled that waste water permits issued in 2009 did not require sufficient testing or monitoring of the potential dangers of these waste waters. Though one lawyer involved in the case argues that such a review “should have been done 30, 40 years ago,” it’s a case of better late than never for the human and ecological health of communities located near these waste sites.

The case has been pending since LEAN filed suit against the state environmental department in 2009, with evidence of potential health consequences accumulating in water supplies and food chains. This practice of dumping waste into local water supplies has gone on for too long without adequate study and regulation, but hopefully this court ruling is a major step in regulating this potentially dangerous practice.

Gulf Stories: Oil, Chemicals, Illness

Even as BP is winding down clean-up efforts, and the government is moving to expand oil drilling, fishermen and oil workers across the Gulf are just beginning to show the extent of strange symptoms – symptoms of  illnesses that many assert are oil-induced.

In disturbing new videos, former commercial bait fisherman Joey Yerkes and others  discuss their experiences with the oil spill and sicknesses they believe they are experiencing as a result. Hear stories from Joey and others involved in Gulf fishing and the BP Vessels of Opportunity (VOO) clean-up program here (part 1) and here (part 2).

Public health is a priority in the Gulf Future Action Plan, which calls for accessible health care provided at the local level by experts who understand chemical exposure issues; education for health care providers on oil-spill related health impacts; and accurate tracking of impacts by government and communities. After watching these videos it’s hard not to join their call for action.